It's taken me awhile to get around to this post, and that's because I told myself I wouldn't be able to write this post until I finally coded a layout. So the fact that I'm writing this now means that yes, after two years of having my weblog, I made a layout.
It's not a particularly good layout, but I like it well enough. There are some things I'm not happy about (and some times I'm sure I'll have to fix), but it'll do for now, and if I'm not too lazy (which is highly doubtful), I'll tweak this thing in the future. I am not sure how readable this is on other browsers/computers, but it looks fine on mine, so I'm moving onto the important stuff now.
ATDP '09 was very different. I could say that this was due to many things: I wasn't taking an ATDP class, Alina was a TA this year (which made a huge difference, I know), I was taking SAT prep classes, and/or Alex was a teacher instead of Trev. Of course it felt very different without Trev. But I really think that it felt different this year because of me, and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
I feel like I was less... affected this year. I didn't cry when I say goodbye, and in fact, the only time I came close to crying this summer was probably during Dumbledore's death scene. I was less crazy, for sure, and I'd like to think I was more mature with my students, but the fact that I was apparently one of the most abhorred/feared TAs proves otherwise. I told Sarah and Janvi that I felt as if I couldn't help my kiddies, and I think that changed my outlook of the summer. In truth, it sucked. I hated when I couldn't get through to them, and I blamed myself. I'm not sure if it's entirely fault, but throughout these six weeks I felt like I could have done better, and I didn't. I don't know. It was not a good feeling.
But onto better things. I know that having Alina nearby was pretty awesome. And of course sporcle. And Restaurant City (I'm sorry I didn't have better willpower, Alina and Max). Various things that helped dealing with the frustrating stuff (i.e. a Kevin Zhang reincarnate) much easier. And it was definitely fun, though I do think the amount of fun was increased this year partly because my parents seemed to be more lax (such as letting me see Harry Potter, and go to the Appreciation Party without a fight, which definitely made a huge difference).
And despite all the differences, and the frustration which was partly directed at myself, I still loved ATDP, as I always do. I'm not going to say I loved it less or more than I loved 2007 or 2008 (granted, any year as a TA beats the year as a student, for reasons we all know), but I will say I loved it different. And maybe that sounds funny, but that's how I feel, so what the hell.
Well I suppose that's all I have to say. I kinda wish I had written a more eloquent post, but I didn't want to be compared to Sarah's gorgeous one, and I'll tell myself that last year's short but sweet post was good enough. And hell, I might as well be different.
So another ATDP goodbye as I prepare to say another Fremont goodbye (temporarily).
Jamie
who finally made a layout, which more importantly has TEAL!